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j)o nne t s^ 



By L. ADDA NICHOLS 




•onnet0 



BY 



L. ADDA NICHOLS 



What is a sonnet ? . . . 
This was the flame that shook with Dante's breath. 
The solemn organ whereon Milton played. 
And the clear glass where Shakespeare's shadow falls. 

-R.IV. Gilder. 



•J- i^ijo 



Copyright, 1910 
By L. Adda Nichols 



iGi,A271524 






" Why don't you write some sonnets ? 
I like sonnets." 



^0 9^v Bittt 

ADA DESTA BARNETT RICHARDS 



SONNETS 



"OBnter into liis gate$ ttijtt) 
ti)anksgil)ing, anD into f)i0 court? 
toitl) praise." 



Ps. 100:4. 



SONNETS 



THANKSGIVING. 

However bleak and bare a life may be. 
There yet remains some cause for 

gratitude ; 
And oft along the way an interlude 
Of hope revived in some dear memory. 
Makes strong the heart to perse veringly 
March on, though rough and rugged 

wrongs intrude. 
Making more dense the ways of soli- 
tude. 
But where a voice is heard : Lean hard on 

Me. 
And so for strength to bear comes thank- 
fulness; 
And in the night some loved and 
cherished song 
Sweeter than any heard by day shall bless 
And make the journey short that once 
seemed long; 
And every day shall be Thanksgiving day. 
While counting blessings all along the 
way. 
1902. 



SONNETS 



"jFor Ijp tl)p tootD0 tI)ou sftalt 
tie ju0tifieD, anD tip tl)p toorDs t^ou 
0j)all lie contiemneD*" 

Mall. 12:37. 



SONNETS 



WORDS. 

Words are such little things and yet so 

great 

Their influence is far beyond compute; 

They bring forth praise or make the 

strongest mute ; 

Deep love by them is won and endless 

hate. 
Words lead to deeds, and come they soon 
or late, 
And good or ill they surely will bear 

fruit, 
Bitter or sweet invariably will suit 
The ends that from the thoughts origi- 
nate. 
Stupendous things are words! oh, weigh 
them well; 
Life is too short when once on outward 
wing 

To e'er recall them to the harbor 

where 

They first saw light, and left the secret 

cell 

Of some tired brain, ever to wail or sing. 

Forever onward like the flight of 

prayer. 
1895. 



SONNETS 



"BoUi \x}btn 3legu$ toa0 tjorn in 
15ctl)lei)eni of 3iu0ea in tht Dap0 of 
iljetoD tf)e king:, tiel)oID, tbere came 
tui0e men from t{)e east to Jetuga- 
lent, gaping, toi)ere 10 f)e tl)at 10 
liorn l^ing of ti)e 3[eU30f for UJe 
|)atje 0ecn !)i0 0tar in tibe ea0t, anD 
are come to tuor0i)ip f)im/' 

Matt. 2:1. 2. 



SONNETS 



THE MEETING OF THE MAGI. 

(From "Ben-Hur.") 

'Tis noon, and o'er Arabia's desert semds 
A faithful dromedary makes his way. 
The pensive rider now dismounts to lay 
The noon-tide meal 'neath tent from dis- 
tant lands. 
With head bowed low in prayer and with 
clasped hands 
He thanks the Father that he sees 

this day. 
Then peering in the distance sights the 
sway 
Of beast with pilgrim, and his heart ex- 
pands 
With joy, to view his looked-for guest 

draw near; 
Balthaser the Egyptian, greeting gives 
To him from Hindustan. Another 
one. 
The third, a learned Greek, doth now 
appear ; 
All by the star are lead; each trusts, 
believes 
And journeys to the shrine of Mary's 
Son. 
1896. 



SONNETS 



"Dag unto Dap utteretjb 0peecf), 
anD nfg^t unto night 0t)otoetl) 



Ps. 19:2. 



10 



SONNETS 



MIDNIGHT. 

Almost as grand as noonday sun, now 
shines 
The placid moon, high in the heavens 

to-night, 
Enfolding earth with calm and silvery 
light. 
And with solemnity of thought enshrines 
Our very soul, until it scarce divines 
Whether the spell be earth or heavenly 

might; 
Transfixed, we gaze upon the splendor 
bright 
That shrub and flower, that tree and dome 

entwines. 
Midnight ! grandeur of silence we behold ! 
While o'er the sleeping world the moon- 
light gleams. 
In likeness to the land where streets are 
gold; 
Whence comes the inspiration of our 
dreams ; 
And listening hear the angels' song of old 
That wafted o'er Judea's hills and 

streams. 
1894. 

II 



SONNETS 



"Ci)ere 10 a tter, tht mmm$ 
UJJjereof 0l)all make 0!aD tl)e dtp of 

Ps. 46:4. 



12 



SONNETS 



ON THE HUDSON. 

The early Autumn sun casts mellow rays, 
As down the broad and placid stream 

we gHde; 
And golden-tinged, the mountains in 
their pride 
Majestic rise to guard the river's ways. 
In recollection long the traveler stays 
Amidst the beauteous scenes on either 

side; 
While history and legend still provide 
To make intense the grandeur nature 

sways. 
Fair hamlets nestle close in shady nooks 
That reach the water's edge. And oft 
to break 
The stillness of the scene, peals 
loud and clear 
The whistling locomotive as it crooks 
And winds round cliffs its rugged way 
to make. 
Then swiftly in the mountains disap- 
pear. 
1896. 



13 



SONNETS 



"30 for man, ftis Dap0 ate a0 
gra00: a0 a flotoer of tht ft'elD, 00 
Ije flouci0!)etf)» 

"jFor tl)e toinD pa00et|) otjer it, 
anD it 10 gone; anD ti)e place tljere- 
of 0J)aU knoto it no more*" 

Ps. 103:15, 16. 

"®p Dap0 are 0U3ifter tf)an a 
toeatier'0 0i)uttle." 

Job 7:6. 



14 



SONNETS 



PAST NOON. 

And can it be the noon of life is passed? 
I am a child at heart, and time stands 

still ; 

At rosy dawn of life we roam at will. 

For o'er the years agone a charm is cast. 

And youth, if so 'tis willed, shall ever 

last. 

And all life's noon and evening-time 

shall fill 
To overflowing, as the laughing rill 
Sings and flows on toward the ocean vast. 
Our life is measured not by days or years. 
But by the deeds we've done or left un- 
done, 
And by our hopes, our sorrows and our 

tears, 
Our life is long or short at set of sun ; 
But counting life by years, ah, soon, too 

soon. 
We sadly say our life is past its noon. 
1894. 



15 



SONNETS 



Jna0muc!) as pe DiD it not" 

Matt. 25:45. 



16 



SONNETS 



OMISSIONS. 

For words we might have said but did 
not say, 
For loving deeds undone in other years, 
Your eyes and mine oft look thro' blind- 
ing tears; 
Since loved ones left us lonely by the way ; 
Vanished so silently, one long, sad day. 
And now earth's curtain hides from 

other spheres. 
And memory holds the sorrows of the 
years. 
O words and deeds, why didst thou thus 

delay? 
So much left out of life that should have 
been 
Woven within the web to make it fair 
And hrm and bright, in beauty all 
complete ; 
And yet we trust, though marred and 
warped by sin. 
The Judge in tender pity will forbear 

when at the last we lay it at His feet. 
1895. 



17 



SONNETS 



"3nD if anp man 0in, toe ftatJe an 
aDtJocate toiti) tbt jFatijet, 3Iesu0 
Cl)r{0t tlje rigi)teou0«" 

1 John 2:1. 



18 



SONNETS 



COMMISSIONS. 

O careless words v/e should have left un- 
said; 
O thoughtless deeds we should have 

left undone ; 
We long when it is all too late to run 
And right the wrong where once our foot- 
steps led, 
Among the might-have-beens forever fled. 
If we could but erase the page whereon 
We blindly wrote — the blurred and 
tear-stained one — 
We'd make the record fair as any read. 
If we could just leave out what pains us so 
And mars the picture that our human 
hands 
Unskilled have tried to paint, and tremb- 
ling know 
The copy it resembles not, but stands 
With all its blemishes before our view. 
We vainly wish we might begin anew. 
1895. 



19 



SONNETS 



"Cbe flotocr0 appear on tf)e 
eattJ); tbe time of t!)e singing of 
tiirD0 i0 come, anD t|)e tjoice of t|)e 
turtle is fjearti in tht lanH*" 

Songs of Solomon 2:12. 



20 



SONNETS 



SPRING MELODIES. 

Clearer than organ tones or sweet guitar. 
When nature wakes to bloom the early 

spring, 
And all God's choir of feathered song- 
sters sing. 
Flows the rich melody o'er earth afar. 
Their throats, all tuned to glowing rapture, 
are 
O'erflowing with the melodies that bring 
The thoughts of peace and joy on out- 
spread wing, 
And faith inspire where doubt and sin 

would mar. 
Sweetly they sing till late the shadows 
fall. 
And naught they seem to know of 
weariness ; 
Then at the first faint hint of early 
day. 
Their carols sweet peal forth, encircling all 
Our waking hearts with life anew to 
bless. 
Inviting us to join their grateful lay. 
1894. 

21 



SONNETS 



"get tije LorD toill commanD i)i0 
lotJing kinDneiS0 in tj)e Daptime, 
and in tf)e nigftt fjis song sijall lie 
tuitf) me«" 



Ps. 42:8. 



22 



SONNETS 



"SONGS IN THE NIGHT." 

Songs in the night! songs in the night! 
when sleep 
Refuses oft the boon of rest to send. 
Solace of song doth o'er the spirit blend. 
And beauties new unfold, when shadows 

deep 
Shut out the light of day, and vigils keep ; 
Then to the weary soul shall far trans- 
cend 
The songs of night to those of day, and 

lend 
A calm to pain, and cool the eyes that 

weep. 
Songs in the night ! songs in the night ! oh, 
come 
And linger oft by every couch of pain. 
In life or death the victory impart. 
If here they wait or speed to heavenly 
home; 
In either case in Christ 'tis only gain. 

Who satisfieth every longing heart. 
1894. 



23 



SONNETS 



"(So tbt tuap of all tfte eartft: lie 
ti)ou 0ttong tbetefore, and sljoto 
tf)p0elf a man*" 

I Kings 2 : 2. 

"15el)olD tJ)erefore, 3 toill gather 
thtt unto tftp fatfjets, anD t|)ou 
sbalt tie gatl)ereD into tftp graue in 
peace." 

2 Kings 22 : 20. 



24 



SONNETS 



MT. AUBURN. 

O sacred flowery paths that wind around 
The quiet resting places of the dead ; 
O voiceless city where in awe we tread. 
In honor of the singers that have found 
In thee the peace that doth supreme 
abound. 
More lasting than the marble at their 

head, 
The inspiration of their page world- 
read. 
And making this a place of holy ground. 
O sweet Mount Auburn ! while we linger 
still, 
We breathe our thanks that such have 
lived and died; 
That ever onward in a ceaseless flow. 
Their living thoughts the coming ages thrill 
With purpose true that shall for aye 
abide ; 
And thus our earth to heaven shall 
nearer grow. 
1896. 



25 



SONNETS 



"Cije toinD tilotoetf) toi)ete it 
Ii0tet|), antJ tJ)ou ftearegt tbt sounti 
ti)ereof, but canst not tell totiencc 
it comet!), anD tri|)itl)er it goetft." 

John 3:8. 



26 



SONNETS 



WINDS OF NOVEMBER. 

Now sadly sigh the winds through leafless 
trees, 
That lift their long bare arms in help- 
lessness, 
As if imploring aid in dire distress. 
Like some sad soul adrift on dreary seas! 
A sense of loss on every passing breeze 
Steals o'er my heart, for treasures have 

grown less. 
And round about my path an emptiness ; 
The cold wind moans and with the loss 

agrees. 
O human life ! at once so full yet void ; 
O memories ! that cling to present tasks, 
O mysteries! all veiled to human 
eyes. 
Wherefore are hopes so ruthlessly de- 
stroyed ? 
Though all unanswered yet the soul 
still asks. 
Then waits the revelation from the 
skies. 
1894. 



27 



SONNETS 



"15le00cD ate tbt merciful: for 
tbty sjball obtain mercp/' 

Matt. 5:7. 



28 



SONNETS 



BLESSED. 

O blessed are the eyes that can not see 
The faults that common are to all meui- 

kind, 
Blessed the eyes to imperf'^ctions blind, 
(May such be given, dear one, to you 

and me) 
But quick to see the beauty that makes free 
And glad the revelation all may find. 
Who search with faith and charity com- 
bined. 
For present good and that which is to be. 
O blessed are the feet that willing run 
On mercy's errands to the sad, op- 
pressed ; 
Blessed the hands that lay not burdens on 
Earth's weary ones belated and dis- 
tressed ; 
Blessed the lips that speak the cheering 

word. 
By love inspired through Christ the living 
Lord. 
18%. 



29 



SONNETS 



"^ man tJjat bnth frienDg must 
0f)ota) l)imgelf frienDIp: anti tbtxt 
10 a ftienD tbat 0ticketi) c!o0er tban 
a isrotfjec*" 



Prov. 18:24. 



30 



SONNETS 



TO THE RIVER CHARLES. 

Historic stream ! within thy depths I gaze. 
And strange, fond thoughts come to me 

o'er and o'er 
Of many that have wandered on thy 
shore ; 
Of one who sang of thee in other days. 
And from his sweetest thoughts expressed 
his praise ; 
And not his praise alone, but what is 

more. 
His heart s true love to thee he did out- 
pour 
In memory of three friends* who loved 

thy ways. 
O River! silent flowing toward the sea, 
Longfellow's pen has made thy name 
secure 
On lettered page a favored word to be. 
And with the poet's name for aye, en- 
dure; 
His face no more is mirrored in thy own; 
Thy waves receive from him no answer- 
ing tone. 
1899. 

* Longfellow's three intimate friends. Felton, Agassiz, Sumner. 

31 



SONNETS 



"jFor unto pou 10 born tW Dap 
in tJ)e dtp of DatoiD, a ^aiJior, 
tojbicf) i$ Cl)rist tJ)e ILorD," 

Luke 2:11. 



32 



SONNETS 



CHRISTMAS. 

The sweetest word contained within the 

song 

The angels sung one night so long ago, 

That vibrates now the many centuries 

through; 

Is peace, sweet peace, oh, still the strain 

prolong 

Till good-will rules entire earth's troubled 

throng ; 

Till weary hearts its deepest meaning 

know. 

And bless the source from whence all 

blessings flow, 

And keep the Christmas joy remaining 

long. 

Far in the East there shines a heavenly 

light, 

Lo, earth's dark night is breaking into 

day; 

The shadows flee before the Prince 

of Peace; 

And He of whom the prophets caught a 

sight. 

And saw in Him the only living way. 

Has come to bring the fettered soul 

release. 
1899. 

33 



SONNETS 



"3 am tf)e regurrection, anti tbt 
Hit: jbe tijat lielietjetl) in me, tijougl) 
1)0 toete DeaD, pet sftall De Utie*" 

John 11:25 



34 



SONNETS 



EASTER. 

O day of days! oh, glad, best day of all! 
When life immortal triumphs o'er the 

grave ; 
Completing thus redemption's work to 
save 
From sin and death, that would the world 

enthrall; 
Proclaiming Him the victor, who at call 
Left His high throne of majesty and 

gave 
Himself, no other great and pure tho' 
brave. 
Could bear the burden and redeem man's 

fall. 
O ring, glad Easter bells! your music 
pour 
O'er all the earth, and consolation give ; 
For Christ is risen ! repeat the story o'er. 
And man, yes man, forever more shall 
live; 
There is no death; the Lord is risen to- 
day; 
From every grave hath rolled the stone 
away. 
1896. 

35 



SONNETS 



"15ut goDliness UJitf) content^ 
ment 10 great ^ahV 

I Tim. 6:6. 



36 



SONNETS 



CONTENTMENT. 

Seek it, oh, soul ! it may be thou wilt find 
Sometime, some far glad day, the 

treasure rare 
That never yet was thine; do not de- 
spair 
Tho' fate denies it thee till eyes are blind 
That once were bright with hope ; the gold 
refined 
To twice ten times its wonted lustre fair. 
Can not with this rich gift of heaven 
compare 
In value which outweighs all joys com- 
bined. 
Contentment! oh, what peace the word 
implies ; 
Contentment ! soar thou not beyond our 
reach ; 
So incomplete without thy presence 
here 
Seems all our life; the goal to which we 
rise 
In our vain dreams, doth but the lesson 
teach 
That thou alone canst bring the two 
worlds near. 
1899. 

37 



SONNETS 



"Ci)ou f)a0t giet ail tht IsorDers of 
tjbe eatti): tijou ijasst niaDe gummet 
anD tointer/' 

Ps. 74:! 7. 



38 



SONNETS 



A WINTER AFTERNOON. 

Equal in splendor to the spring-time's 
glow, 
Is this, tho' brief, bright winter after- 
noon; 
While seems the sun to hurry all too 
soon 
Adown the western skies ; and sinking low. 
Its parting gleams through leafless trees 
doth throw 
A beauty o'er the landscape, and attune 
All things to harmony, as perfect June 
Crowned queen of summer doth her gifts 

bestow. 
And now the light reflects on low head- 
stones 
And marble shafts that in "God's acre" 
stand ; 
Emblems of rest to weary souls at 
last; 
And pointing upward unto heavenly 
thrones. 
Speak through their silence of a better 
land. 
Whither the tribes of earth are 
gathering fast. 
1899. 

39 



SONNETS 



"are not fitJe ^pattotog 0OID for 
tU)o fart|)ing0, anD not one of tijem 
i^ forgotten tiefote (g)oDi^'' 

Luke 12:6. 



40 



SONNETS 



BIRDS. 

Without the birds what would the wood- 
lands be? 
The flowers would wear a lonely look 

if they 
Should wake some morn and miss the 
joyous lay 

From songsters that have filled the air 
with glee. 

Without the birds, — how sad the 
thought, — ah, me; 

In vain would strive all nature to look 

gay; 

No joy in spring if robins were away. 
And winter drear without the chickadee. 
Dear gifts from God! flown out from his 
own hand. 
Scattered abroad o'er field and hill and 
stream. 
To bless the world with hope, and 
faith inspire. 
Their song of gratitude fills all the land. 
Turns weary care into a bright day- 
dream. 
Takes from the soul its doubt and 
lifts it higher. 
1899. 

41 



SONNETS 



i(' 



C!)ou crotone0t tije pear toitf) 
ti)p gooDness; anD tj)p pat!)0 Drop 
fatness." 

Ps. 65:11. 



42 



SONNETS 



THE NEW YEAR 

What does the new year hold for you and 
me, 
We ask; the portals swinging outward 

stand 
Inviting us to tread an unknown land; 
The tasks awaiting us we may not see. 
Enough for us to know they will not be 
More than our strength to meet the 

sure demand 
That day by day revealed and near at 
hand 
Shall lighten till we greet them joyfully. 
Along the New Year road will roses 
grow. 
Likewise the weeds, and we may take 
our choice 
Of which we gather as we pass 
along. 
To good or bad, God still permits to flow 
A free-will power; we sigh or we re- 
joice. 
And make life's years a burden or 
a song. . 

1902. > • 



43 



SONNETS 



"Cl)e i)eatjen0 Declare tfje glorp 
of iDoD; and tf)e fitmamem 0t)oto= 
eti) J)i0 banUitootk/' 



Ps. 19.1. 



44 



SONNETS 



MY CHOICE. 

What picture do you love the best of all, 
That ever A.rtist's hand did paint with 

skill 
In colors bright or softened tints that 
thrill 
Your very being oft as you recall 
The wondrous lights and shades that seem 
to fall 
So lightly from the Artist's brush, and 

still 
Speak of the patience that must e're 
fulfill 
The great demand and pay the price — not 

small — 
That genius asks of all her children dear? 
Which picture do you like the best, and 

why? 
By any painter, high, low, far or near. 
That thrills the soul with joy or brings a 

tear? 
My choice is on the canvas of the sky; 
A sunrise in the spring-time of the year. 
1903. 



45 



SONNETS 



"Cf)e fire sJiall etjer tie fiutning 
upon tl)e altat; it 0!)an netier go 
out" 

Lev. 6:13. 



46 



SONNETS 



THE FIRE UPON THE HEARTH. 

O brightly glows the fire upon the hearth 
Within my neighbor's kitchen, so close 

by 
I raise my shades in early morn that I 
May catch the inspiration and the worth 
Of homely cheer, good-will, and spark- 
ling mirth 
That gives the day a goodly start; for 

why 
Should hearts be sad when light is in 
the sky 
And on your neighbor's hearth? if yours 

shines [orlh 
In unison with theirs and nature's own. 

As in the ancient time the altar fire 
Each morn replenished went not out, but 
shone 
An emblem of the life that love inspires ; 
So faith can see through sorrow and 

through mirth, 
The fire of hope burn brightly on the 
hearth. 
1903. 



47 



SONNETS 



"Cljerefote tbv gateg sftall be 
open continuallp; tjbep stall not fie 
sfiut nap nor nigfit; tftat men map 
firing unto tfiee tfie forces of tfie 
(Gentiles, and tfiat tficir kings map 
fie firougfit." 

Isa. 60:11. 



46 



SONNETS 



SUNSET LAND 

And now the sun in splendor sinks to rest 
Beside the Golden Gate m evening's 

glow; 
In that far land where gentle breezes 
blow, 
And summer rules the year supremely 

blest. 
Thou canst not, wanderer, in all thy quest 
A place more Eden-like e'er hope to 
know 
Than this fair spot that charms the traveler 

so. 
Of roses in perpetual beauty dressed. 
Beyond Sierras' snow-capped heights 
where rolls 
The broad Pacific in the sunset land; 
The land of palms, high reaching, 
stately, free; 
Where rhythmic songs of waves with songs 
of souls 
Keep step with time through onward 

marches grand. 
And where the "green cross"* looks 

upon the sea. 
1903. 

* A large cross of evergreen trees on the mountainside by Joaquin 
Miller's home, Oakland, Cal. 

49 



SONNETS 



"lBel)olD, at tht bank of t|)e ritiet 
tnere Detp manp trees on tfje one 
isitie anD on tl)e oti)et/' 

Ezek. 47:7. 



50 



SONNETS 



A MEMORY. 

No stream so fair as that which glided by 

Our childhood's sunny home. No banks 

so green 

In all these after years were ever seen 

As those on which we strayed, so broad 

and high; 
No trees or flowers e'er looked toward 

summer sky 
On hills so bright or shady vales serene 
As dear Grand River sang its way be- 
tween ; 
Search as we may, we find not, nor need 

try. 
There oft the Indians came and pitched 
their tent; 
And named the little village Saranac; 
And baskets wove, and fished along 
the banks, 
Where blushing red the sweet thorn-apples 
bent. 
As all these early scenes to me come 
back, 
I clasp the pleasant memory with 
thanks. 
1903. 

51 



SONNETS 



"Jl^oto ti)ank0 be unto (^oD, 
tobitb altoap0 causetf) u0 to nU 
umpft in Cf)tf0t/' 



2 Cor. 2:14. 



52 



SONNETS 



TRIUMPH. 

Builds and rebuilds the faithful bird its 
nest, 
When thoughtless hands destroy the 

precious home; 
No time it wastes to sigh or idly roam; 
But works until triumphant it shall rest. 
And so the dauntless spirit in its quest 
Knows no defeat, though often it may 

come, 
No entrance finds or solitary room 
Within a life with pure ambition blest. 
Who does his best shall at the last prevail; 
And count the failure blest of yester- 
day. 
Which giveth strength to a deter- 
mined will. 
Then work, though oft it be thy fate to 
fail; 
Amidst the battles lost along the way 
Be it thy power, oh, soul, to triumph 
still. 
1903. 



53 



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